**Quote: "The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass." ~~Queen Elizabeth 2 **

Chapter 13

That was probably the best gym class I've ever been in. Ivy and I played like our minds were in sync. Always knowing where the other would be or what the other planed on doing. If that had been a real battle I couldn't think of anyone better than someone like her by my side.

The game...well we totally lost. Like it was 24-6. But no matter how many points they got Ivy and I wouldn't give up. The other girls on our team had decided to make one annoyingly large group right at the center and talk about why they don't like to gossip. It sounds a little like 'I don't like to gossip or anything but Liz is so...' or 'Seriously I mean she needs to stop acting all sad and stuff. It's like really depressing to me'.

They were like the obstacle we had to avoid. Well...Alexis, or head bitch as she was titled, was standing right in front of me and it was just so tempting to knock her on the fat ass that she barely covers with booty shorts. And I did. Sometimes I can't decide who I would rather deal with. The dimwitted, snippy Vicki or the outspoken, rude Alexis.

"That was so much fun!" Ivy smiles at me from across the gray lunch table as she starts to take out one of the healthiest lunches I've ever seen a teen eat.

Nodding along as she continues to talk about her classes like they were the equivalent to the Doctor Who experience in England, I search the lunch room.

I'm not used to eating in the lunchroom with all my classmates. I don't like it. I feel claustrophobic. The noise, the laughter, and the movement. Maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but even the light filtering through the wavy glass windows seems too bright. It feels like too much after years of quiet.

I've never been one of the most outgoing kinds of girl and when I'm with friends (or the people I can stand) I stick to only a small group of people. Anymore than at least ten makes me sick to my stomach.

When a lunch tray slams down next to me I come out of my morose mood and smile up at a familiar face. Kye sits down and smiles at me sweetly. I don't think I've ever really seen this boy without a smile unless he is stressed about something. In those times its best to just keep your distance.

"You so creamed us this morning, Marie." His teasing look sets my competitive monster off and I sit up straight.

"It's not my fault when I only have one person on my team who doesn't just stare at you in bewilderment when you toss a ball their way. I mean I swear to God I just wanted to strangle Alexis when I tossed her the ball and she threw it right to Daniel! I mean we all know that she's in love with him but seriously!" My temper flares and my voice gets slightly louder with every word.

"Aw come on now. Alexis isn't that bad. I mean she can have her moments but I think you're overeating a bit." Kye says casually as he pops the lid to his water bottle open. Surrounding him is his two sandwiches and a bag of chips. The guy is as thin as a stick but he eats like a football player.

I roll my eyes at his annoying kindness and then I catch sight of Jem and Pepper both walking into the cavernous lunch room. Feeling a true smile come over me I hop up from our table and wave them over. Maybe one of them will give me an excuse to leave this overcrowded room.

A few students take their time to discreetly look at the new student. I'm sure to them Jem looks odd with her spiked David Tennant hair and Pierce the Veil t-shirt but she walks through the tables like the stares don't bother her. This is her without her striped suit too.

Shifting from foot to foot to show how uncomfortable I am in my current surroundings I am relieved to see Jem take the hint.

"Marie, can I talk to you for a minute in the hallway?" Jem asks me. Then she sees Kye there. "Nice to meet you. My name is Jamie Vincent but everybody calls me Jem."

He gives her his broad smile and nods to her. "I'm Kye Gaunt. I've already heard a lot about you."

Jem cocks her head slightly to the right and the corners of her lips curl. "I'm not sure whether to take that as a good or bad thing."

"Well this is high school so I usually hear things from, 'Hey, the new girl is awesome' to 'Hey, the new girl looks like a mass murderer'. You can take it however you want." Kye teases, saying the last sentence in a mumble since he had just about shoved his whole sandwich in his mouth at once.

Jem laughs and places a hand on Ivy's shoulder in goodbye. Not wanting to waist a second I race around the lunch table and say goodbye to my friends. Everyone except Pepper says goodbye to me. Jeez, that girl can sure hang on to a grudge.

Once Jem and I are in the hallway she walks over to the far side of the hall where our lockers are placed. Opening hers she pulls out a black wrapped box tied off with a ribbon.

Not saying anything to give me a hint she hands me the box and her cell from her pocket. "Before you open this press redial on my cell and wait until he answers. You might want to go into the gym for some privacy."

"Will you wait here for me?" I really have no idea what was going on right now but I have an idea who's going to pick up my call and I feel a thrill shoot though me.

Itching to rush into the gym and dial the phone I wait until Jem nods and I then I rush over and ram into the sticky doors.

Gripping the phone in one hand and the black box in one hand I run full sprint over to the rows of seats. I am barely sitting when I hit redial on the skinny black cell and I hear the ringing.

Suddenly a sick nervousness takes over me and I can't help but to feel more and more nervous as each ring shrills in my ear. For some crazy reason I am suddenly worried about how much this seriously long distance call was going to cost.

By the third ring someone picks up the line and a slight buzz of static buzzes through the phone. "Hello?" The deep masculine voice that spoke through the phone makes my nerves suddenly calm. I didn't feel sick anymore. I only felt relief.

"Hi."

"You have no idea how great it is to hear your voice." His deep sigh blows more static into the phone.

Um, I'm pretty sure you're preaching to the choir here. Ever since you left, which was only last night, all I can think about is how you're not here with me. But of course my awkward self wouldn't let me admit anything that was roaring through my head right now. "So how's Europe?" Really? God, I sound like I'm talking to a business partner.

His deep rumbling laughter sends the butterflies in my stomach flutter. "Marie, I know you have my present in your hands right now and I know that the last thing you want to hear about is war related things. You can open the box now."

Sighing in irritation at how well he knows me I pin the phone between my cheek and my shoulder. Planting the box on my knees I start to hurriedly untie the black bow. As soon as it falls away I rip off the lid and completely freeze when I see what's inside.

A velvety purple cover protects thick white sketching paper that holds at least three hundred pages. Picking it up I notice the silver etching curling along the cover to make it look like growing vines trying to climb inside and etch themselves into the pages.

Gingerly turning the cover over a folded drawing falls out and into the box. Opening it I am surprised to see it's the one I saw framed in Nate's hall of himself, Eliza, Royce, and Pepper in the old fashioned garb. They were all sitting in the tall grass and laughing.

"Have you opened the sketching book yet? You haven't spoken in quite some time and I'm worried we've disconnected." Nate jokes as I fight to breathe evenly. I just now saw the pack of professional sketching pencils and charcoals. I mean some of these tools looked like they were more expensive than any of my finest pens that I did have.

Growing up the only new things I got I paid for. There was no gift giving unless my mom or dad expected something from me on a holiday. Even when I gained Eliza as my best friend we weren't very sentimental like that.

Having someone care enough to pick something like this out for me just because they knew I wanted it made me want to cry.

"Marie?" There was worry in his voice this time.

"Sorry it's just...thank you. This means so much to me." Embarrassment creeps over me as my voice breaks on my last word. Clearing my throat I have to look up at the ceiling to keep the tears at bay. "So you never told me the story about this picture."

"No I never got the chance. But I'm sure you guessed by now that almost all of the artwork in my house is courtesy of you. That picture is no exception. You drew that in the 14th era. We were on those hills in a brief break from the battle that we had just been through. Royce had made all of us laugh and without a word you took a piece of parchment and your pencils and drew until every last detail was down.

"When we asked you why you decided to just randomly capture that moment you said that you wanted proof that even when we were in the midst of a war we could still smile. You wanted us to see that no matter how hard things get our family is what keeps us sane." Although that sounds a bit cheesy I can imagine myself saying something like that. Through the phone I can practically hear the deep rumbling underlining his loud laugh. "Sometimes you would get up in the middle of the night and just grab something to draw on. You wouldn't tell me what it was or what it meant until you were done. Even then it meant a whole lot more to your perspective than it did mine."

Suddenly a thought occurs to me. "Nate..."

"Yes?"

"I still don't really understand why you and I...never married before our last life together." I fiddle with the sketchbook so I won't let the embarrassment consume me before I get the answer.

Nate seems to pause over the statement before answering. "Do you. . .know that we are a mated pair yet?" His voice is hesitant, and I can tell he's worried how I will react.

"No thanks to you, Lily filled me in on that revelation this morning. You should've told me," I scold.

"Yes, I know I should have told you before now. It would have been much more appropriate if it came from me in any case. It's just after everything you had learned, I thought telling you that there would only be me in your life, no matter what you ever do, would freak you out."

"You know for a high ranking official you're kind of dim-witted," I respond sharply.

He only laughs with relief at my response. I realize that every time he laughs everything inside of me relaxes and I can literally feel the bones in my body loosen up in response to him. Whether I wanted him in my life or not I had no choice in the matter. But thinking about him being in my life, I find I don't mind not having a choice. My past self chose this man time after time. Life after life. I made my choice about Nate a long time ago, and I'm perfectly happy to stand by that decision.

Above all things, I feel greedy in wanting to keep him all to myself when I know there are a lot of humans and angels alike that need him as well. But I can't bring myself to quell this greed. I've known him for days and I am already dependent on him to make me feel calm.

"When did-" But I don't get to finish my sentence as the most gut-wrenching scream echoed in the background on Nate's end of the line, and it makes me drop the phone in panic. By the time I fumbled the phone back up to me ear, the screaming had stopped and Nate was apologizing.

"I'm sorry for that. I didn't think they would begin to soon." He sounded a bit apprehensive at telling me that last bit and it completely freaks me out.

"Who the hell was that?! Is one of your men injured?" I don't even try to hide the full-fledged panic now strangling my voice.

Nate replies after a full five seconds and his voice has a creepy calm underlying it that I don't like at all. "No Marie, that was not one of my soldiers it is a Fallen spy. We need information and he's not giving it willingly."

His calm voice did nothing at the moment to make me feel any better. So much for me depending on him. "You cannot do that to someone Nate! It's- it's just not right." In my rush to get him to understand how wrong this was I had jumped up, completely forgetting the presents on my knees.

"They would do the same exact thing to anyone of us and with no mercy they would kill us all. I have no regrets in doing what will protect my people and most importantly you." His voice had become cold and I shivered at how quickly he had become a different person over these last few minutes.

"So you have to stoop to their level and torture someone in order to get information?" My fingers shake with fury at what he's been doing so far from me.

"I'm surprised at you." He pauses for a moment as if waiting for me to ask why but I'm too pissed to unclench my jaw. "You used to be very willing to bestow pain unto one of the Fallen. Before you were human of course."

The way he says 'human' makes me think that he meant to say 'weak' or 'pathetic'. I am so close to making one of my friends fly me over to his location so I can whip his ass. Or at least try. "Maybe being human is just what I needed to bring back some humanity into my soul. You obviously have none."

There is a long pause over the phone where we are both breathing through clenched teeth as a fiery fury sets us aflame, and I so want to burn him.

After what seems like an eternity he finally speaks. "I have to go. There is business I need to attend to. Stay safe." Before I can get a word in he hangs up our call and I let a cross between a bull puffing and a tiger growling out of my mouth.

I'm too angry to be upset over the fact that we didn't even get to say goodbye properly. Whether or not I felt differently about inflicting pain unto another person when I was an angel doesn't matter to how I feel now. He has no right to degrade my opinion just because I'm human now.

At the sound of a throat clearing I spin around and stare at Jem. I hadn't even heard her sneak up behind me, and this huge gym echoes like crazy.

I just scowl at her and say nothing for fear of exploding with all my anger.

"You don't understand what we have to sacrifice to save millions of lives." She says this in a cold yet patient voice.

"Oh I'm sure it's really difficult for you all. You are all so damned cold about this subject you've turned from flesh and bone to hard stone." I practically growl out the words to her.

Her reaction is as I expected; not even the slightest of emotion or movement. It riles up my anger and frustration even more. "That's exactly what we have to do to get through the things that are difficult for someone like you to understand. Sometimes to save a million you have to sacrifice your very humanity and let go of the thought of only doing what is right.

"If you for one second thought that this is some cliché battle between good and evil then you are a fool. We are all forced to throw away our morals at one point. The Fallen have just decided to do what you say is wrong because they enjoy it. Why else do you think Nate didn't like the fact that you were practically comparing him to the Fallen? There is no greater insult than that of comparing a man who has fought tirelessly to protect, to the very creatures he is trying to defeat."

My jaw was down on the ground as I stared at her, at a loss for what to say. The constant words 'It's still not right. You can't do this!' were thundering through my mind demanding to be released but they felt weak after what she just said. After a moment I finally pull my spine straight and glare at her with every ounce of anger I still had coursing through my veins. "I guess I'm just going to be slow on understanding why you would enjoy hurting someone."

As I walked stiffly past her I can't help but feel like I overstepped some invisible line by accusing her of enjoying the pain of others like she was some psychopath.

Before I am out the doors I hear her next words come out at a dangerously low volume. "It's seems Marie that I have a lot more to teach you than just combat."

Turning my head over my shoulder I look at where she had just been but there was no trace of her or the gift I had abandoned on the dusty floor.

Over the next week the amount of homework I was being given had gotten to the point where I was almost ready to beg Jem to let me skip a lesson or two. But she and I hadn't properly spoken since our last argument and neither of us was ready to apologize.

She had made it quite clear that you shouldn't get on her bad side when she is teaching you how to fight in combat. Jem was exceptionally gifted at hand-to-hand combat and since our fight I had adorned more than one black eye, busted lip, and bloody nose. So it didn't look like I was randomly getting mugged Jem allowed me to heal the most obvious wounds.

But any bruises that could be covered stayed as a reminder of how much work I still had to put into her lessons so I wouldn't feel like a huge bruised banana (my bruises went from black and purple to a sickly yellow that resembled the fruit when it was outdated).

On a brighter note being able to heal myself let me practice on focusing on each individual wound. Jem told me during one of our lessons that if I was too eager in healing a person in bad shape I may just push their heart over the edge and it will fail. Sometimes I need to go slow with what I heal.

Of course Ivy only seemed to be improving and becoming more agile and quick footed. Her and Jem seemed to be getting along really well and I have a feeling part of it had to with their dislike of Eliza. My jealousy erupted bitter and sour every day that Jem ignored me and Ivy seemed to laugh so easily with her.

Whether it was the fact that Jem wouldn't talk to me, Pepper was still acting as if I had committed a felony, Nate was insulted over what I said, or all the homework that my procrastinating had made build up I felt overwhelmed. All of these people wanted me to apologize and say that I was completely wrong for what I said or did. Yet I can't apologize for the same reason they can't, just vice versa. I feel like I was right and they were in the wrong.

Ivy and I only talked if Jem isn't nearby and I can't help but add to my pity party and feel like she enjoys the others company more than mine.

Finally after being isolated from my friends I go to the only person I still feel comfortable being around; Lily. As the only mother figure I've had in this lifetime I feel like she's the one I need to turn to in this situation.

Walking into the kitchen where Lily is cleaning up dinner I start to help clean the dishes and I peak over at her early forties wrinkles that lightly layer her face. A sense of calm gently curls over me as I stand in the low light over the sink in the familiar kitchen I had gotten so used to.

"So are you going to ask for my advice or not?" She says not unkindly.

I laugh slightly relieved she's starting this conversation. "Well I'd actually like some advice on this topic actually. You're about the only one who will talk to me anyway." I finish slightly bitter.

"Now you are just being a dramatic child." She moves beside me and starts to scrub the dishes as I dry. But when she says this I drop the bowl I was holding, it was thankfully plastic, and I am so very glad that Pepper is over at Nate's house for a couple of hours to work out so that she didn't have to hear that insult.

"You've got to be kidding me! I'm being the dramatic one?!" She shoves the neglected plastic bowl back into my hands to properly dry.

"No actually I am being very serious. What you said was just hilariously overdramatic." Her voice stays reasonable and calm as she's speaks so I try and not interrupt.

"You must think I'm blind if you think I haven't realized that things are at a standstill between you and the other girls. I'm actually rather disappointed it's taken you so long to come to me. But if you want to feel better than you may know that none of the other girls have come to me." Now as she hands me a pot to dry I feel the heat creep up my neck and I'm wishing that I hadn't even come.

"But what Jem and Nate are doing something that I find morally wrong! It's...it's just I never knew there was this side to them and it scares me. The way they are okay with hurting others. It just reminds me of my own parents. Every time my mother would insult me shed have this sick sardonic smile on her face. My father was always loosened up with the taste of liquor but I knew he felt no remorse once he sobered up." As the words clumsily tumble from my mouth they sound weak and pathetic.

"You know we all realize how your parents in this lifetime treated you. They are just as foul as the Fallen. But do you truly believe every time Nate or Jem or Eliza or any of us kill a Fallen we take joy in the fact? It makes us feel tortured to take a life away. As well only a lifetime ago you had the same side to you. Now that you've spent a few years as a human you find it harder to realize that something's you just have to do. Jem, Nate, and any other angel soldier have no choice but to do what is hard.

"They don't enjoy it, or think that it's something fun to do on the weekend. They get it done and deal with the damage it does to them later. Whether you feel what they do is wrong or not they have to do it. You, darling are in the wrong in this argument." Now we are down to the cups.

"But I still don't feel like they should-" I start to say but am interrupted almost immediately.

"Alright, you may feel that way but there is no changing what has happened or has to happen so either give them support, hang on to your beliefs, or isolate yourself to the point where you only have a pet rock to talk to you."

For a moment I don't say anything as what she says washes over me. Even though I can't stand the thought of my friends hurting someone just to obtain something they need, I know that they deserve my support. But was still going to make it plain that I wasn't going to be involved in torturing any Fallen, anytime soon.

"Well what about Ivy and Pepper?" I ask as she starts to hand me the last few silverware.

"You have just been feeling like all of your friends have turned their backs on you and so you include Ivy in that mix as well. You just need to get over yourself and realize that Ivy is a social person. She doesn't devote one hundred percent of her attention to one person. That would be absurd. As for Pepper, she is just a spoiled girl who holds grudges for a ridiculously long amount of time. Just wait her tantrum out and she will be right as rain." Lily turns to me and smiles that heartwarming motherly smile that tells me I'm about to get a hug.

I'm not the most hug-y person in the world but when it comes to Lily I can't refuse. Her soft arms wrap around me and I smile contently.

"Now," she says pulling away, "you have a lot of homework to get started. Go on!" To encourage me to start on the mountain of work I have got to finish she pushes my shoulder rather hard and I grunt in pain. Jem had shown us how to lock someone immobile by just grabbing their shoulder and arm. Unfortunately I was the test dummy.

That night it was maybe two A.M. by the time I finished the two reports I had to write for both Spanish class and my Economics class. Both of which are my least favorite subjects. After finishing the rough drafts I should have done the night before I finally jumped on the computer and typed them both up with a full thirty problems I still had to accomplish for my math class.

I finally felt the nudge of sleep lull me into half conciseness when suddenly I felt something else come over me. The familiar feeling of a memory lost curls over me and I'm too tired to push it away. As my eyes drift closed this sudden mysterious memory swoops down upon me and a vision starts to appear.

The man I'm arguing with has most of his teeth either knocked out or blackened from many hours spent over a jar of ale. The retched spell practically radiates from him.

When I came up to him in hopes of securing lodging in his Inn for the night to get me off the streets I never thought I'd be shunned away because of the company I held.

"I 'member your face from las' night. You's was with that bloke. Broke me sons nose, he did. Tried to make eyes at me daughter. 'Eave, you'll get no room from me." The man growled out in a slur between his broken and rotted teeth.

Men and women were pushing past me roughly as they were trying to get off the streets before night truly fell and the drunkards came about. With a great sigh I step away from him and force my weary feet to move.

After traveling a week and sleeping on the hard earth I had held hopes for at least a blanket to cover me while I sleep. But this man had obviously seen me with that despicable man last night. I left him alone for only a few minutes to try and buy us some food but when I came back he had disappeared as he often did. Now I know what he had put his time up to.

Walking through the sludge on the streets and avoiding the woman leaning out of windows to empty their chamber pots out I walk to where I know I will have to spend the night if I don't want to get killed or worse. The stable next to the only tavern in the village.

Glancing at it I notice it could barely hold more than twenty men but somehow they managed twice that number. As the door swings open I get a glance at two of the people. One is the tall man in a ratty shirt and torn pants that the Inn keeper saw me with last night, and the other is a scantily clad woman, with strange flame colored hair, seductively leaning into him.

Breathing out a sigh of contempt I walk quickly over to the tavern. Avoiding the ripped up boards at my feet I push into the crowd and am immediately met by the stench of ale, sweat, and vomit. The men in hear are either brooding over their drinks, picking a fight, taking a half-naked prostitutes upstairs, or passed out on the floor. In any way they all revolt me and I try to keep the bile from rising in my throat.

When a man with a long scraggly beard and a bald head glances at me with the intensity of a man who only has one thing on his mind I feel a blooming fear brighten inside me. Glancing quickly around for the tall man I had seen when the door had opened I spot him taking the flame haired prostitute upstairs. The bastard. He had probably spent all the pennies we had just to buy a few pints of ale and pay for the woman.

Suddenly my presence is starting to get noticed. All of these women in here are much taller and bustier than I, and yet even covered in dust and grime I'm a fraction cleaner than them. My pale exposed arms seem to draw attention.

My brain works into overdrive and I know even if I race out the door my dress will slow me down and at least one man will catch up to me and soon others will follow in suit.

Staring up at the tall man I notice he's become aware of the commotion and he has stopped the prostitute from leading him into the dingy room.

I know that even with the dimly lit candle light flickering around the room that he can see me with his heightened vision. Even if he is a little drunk. I raise pleading eyes to him as at least three men move closer in on me and the rest in the tavern just watch. The tall man just raises an eyebrow and smirks as if he's about to watch a good show, but he has stepped closer to the railing that overlooks the floor I now stand on.

When he just stands there my fear turns into anger- no fury. The three men approaching me leer at me and drag their eyes along my body. But I can't find the fear that was consuming me only minutes before. I become cold and hard. I don't care about these men. I want them out of the way so I may strangle the tall man.

Acting like I'm scared I back into a corner and move my hand behind my back and grab a heavy, empty jar of ale. Being in the corner one man has to come at me at a time.

The first man is tall and lanky and sweat drips down his forehead as he stares at me with a disgusting amount of hunger. As soon as he is within reach I swing with every bit of abnormal strength I've gained since coming down as an angel. He crumples to the ground as soon as the metal cuts into the side of his forehead. I might have just murdered him but I have no time to feel the guilt as the second man roars in anger and surprise and he lunges for me.

His grimy fingers close tightly on my throat and he slams me into the back wall so hard the jar drops from my hand and rolls away. Stars burst in my vision and splinters from the wood that my backs pressed into, dig into my flesh.

As I gasp for breath the man try's to struggle with the clasp on my cloak and while he's preoccupied I bring my knee up. Hard. Letting out a gasp of pure agony he drops to his knees holding himself. When he struggles to look up at me I bring my knee up again and he rockets back, his nose busted and bleeding freely.

The third man is much broader and his muscles bulge as he looks at his two friends. Looking at me he doesn't break eye contact as he pulls a long rusted knife from his belt.

I suck in a breath and try to search for something to shield the blade from my tender flesh but I've already dropped the jar I had been using and it's disappeared.

Whether I have the added strength and speed that comes with my wings I am not skilled enough to fight this man off.

As he takes a step towards me my boldness slips from me and a chilling fear slams into me.

Then a blur of color drops in front of me and the tall man stands in front of me. I feel no gratitude at his sudden appearance. As the man with the knife blinks away his surprise at this new competitor he takes a swing at the tall man. When the knife comes towards my "savior" he whips his body to the side, grabs the man's arm, and with one swift hit to the inside of the man's arm it cracks and he screams as it hangs at an awkward angle at his side.

The man and I have now drawn the whole attention of the tavern and some drunken men get up from their tables.

"Nathaniel, do not challenge them. You are going to get me killed." I stare at Nathaniel and put every bit of hatred into the glare I am giving him.

My temper flares as he gives me a sly grin and then stares cockily at the men advancing on him. It's obvious he's hungry for another fight as he widens his stance and beckons the men forward.

With a great sigh I stare him down and make sure he's listening to my next words. "After you are satisfyingly beaten by these men meet me at the stable close to here." I keep my voice low and stare him down until I know he understands my words.

Quickly walking to the tavern door I see two men try and pursue me but Nathaniel intercepts them easily. I know full well that he only does this because of his thirst for the blood of these drunken men.

I roll over in my sleep and groan as another memory curls around me and I am taken back under almost immediately.

Nathaniel walks close to me as we travel into the night across the dusty path that is supposed to lead us to a village said to be filled with trade. We are running low on coins and supplies as it is but we need food.

It has been a fortnight since Nathaniel decided to stay in the tavern and fight those men. When he didn't turn up I found him in the early light of morning on the floor with the other drunkards.

I enjoyed the fact that his whole face was swelled and beaten. Knowing that we had to move on from this village I tried to heal him. But even after a century of living as an angel, through two lives, I was still rather weak and it took a lot of concentration to heal major wounds.

Once his face had sealed the cuts it adorned I kicked him in the ribs and yelled at him to stand up. That part felt good.

Now we travel to a village that is claimed to have a sudden and mysterious illness to befall its people. There I am to practice my healing.

Looking at Nathaniel I see dark coloring under his eyes and I know he hasn't slept in two days as we haven't stopped for a rest. For me it's easier to heal myself and suddenly I feel rested and ready to carry on. As a punishment for almost spending all our pennies worth at that tavern I have not shared this secret with him.

I know that he will keep dragging his feet as the rumbling in his stomach carries him forward to the promise of food. Yet I also know that if he carries on he won't be any form to even try to protect me.

Spotting a tall amount of grass a few feet off the road I tap his arm and point to it. Without another word he collapses in the middle of the soft grass and he's immediately asleep, soft snores rumbling from his chest.

Staring at him wearily I situate my filthy, torn dress around me to keep me warm through the night.

I look at his bloodied knuckles and a scowl comes over my face. Why did The Lord have to stick me with the fighting drunk as my Guardian. The Archangels said that a Healer and their Guardian are supposed to have a special bond. If special bond means almost drowning your Guardian in a tub of water to wake him from a particularly heavy drinking, then yes we have a special bond.

The moon suddenly brightens our surroundings as it appears from behind a black cloud. As it casts a shadow over us I notice something on Nathaniel.

Leaning closer and holding my breath so it doesn't wake him I look at his busted lip and crooked nose.

The lip must have come from the tavern as I was not able to heal it and he is unable to be careful to not make it break open again and again. The nose is from when I first met him as my Guardian. He was a pompous ass and I took a swing and broke his nose. I smile at the memory.

Deciding that I can not leave him in such ill condition as he is supposed to protect me I decide to heal him. Leaning closer I gently touch his nose and think about the power waiting to burst from my fingers and take away pain.

I feel it gently curl from within me and push out in a soft green light that flows over his crooked nose I feel a tickling on my arm and looking down I watch as another green curl, much like a vine, connects with the many I have accomplished over the century.

Pulling my finger from his nose I gently place it one his busted lip and let the green glow hover over the bloodied flesh. For a moment I keep my finger there and I concentrate on his exhaustion and I let my energy flow through him until I feel as if I may pass out myself. Pulling away from him I realize that I am too exhausted from my lack of food and rest. Putting my head down on the soft grass I silently slip into a fitful sleep...

I awake with a start and feel like a haze is floating around my head and clouding my brain. I look around and almost scream when I see someone staring back at me. Then I realize it's just my reflection staring back at me through the many different mirrors on the wall.

Breathing heavy I look across the room expecting to see Pepper wide awake but her bed is empty. I suddenly remember that with Eliza gone she has decided to stay in her room.

Climbing out of bed I recall the memory I just relived and think of the many history lessons I have received in this life. That must have been in either the twelfth or thirteenth century. Most commonly known as the Medieval Times. I think of Nate at that time and I shudder at the person he was then and the person he is now.

That makes me think of how we ended things talking over the phone only a few days ago.

Pacing I decide to call him now or I will never get any sleep. Before I can even get a few feet to my door it fly's open and an exhausted looking Lily steps into my room holding her small cell phone, that looks a lot like Jem's, in her hand.

"You either get her a cell phone for herself or you don't call at three in the morning." She grumbles into the phone before thrusting it into my hands and striding out my door.

What...who's calling me at this time in the morning?

Putting the cell to my ear I hesitatively greet whoever is on the other line. The voice that responds sends my heart skipping two beats. "Hello love."

"Nate! I-wait how did you know to call? I was just about to go and get a phone myself." My words come out a bit breathlessly and I feel a blush creep up my neck.

"You were extremely stressed over something and then I felt your loneliness and sadness. I called Lily just now to check on you. Are you alright?" His voice holds none of the coldness that I had received on our last phone call and my hope builds up. Before answering I feel shock overcome hope as I process what he just said. How did he know?

That's exactly what I ask him. He seems surprised that I don't know the answer to that question as he doesn't answer for several seconds. "Didn't Lily explain to you what being connected to me means?"

I shake my head and remembering he can't see me I say no.

"Well being connected to me means that no matter where we are we will always feel whether our partner is stressed or sad or happy. Every feeling rushes over us like it's our own feelings. Haven't...haven't you felt that yet?" Worry and disappointment lace his voice and I can tell he's worried about my answer.

"No, well I mean I definitely feel a connection to you but I can't actually feel your emotions." I pause for a second and start to worry myself. "Is that bad?"

"I don't know." He confesses. "I will send Royce to talk to some contacts and see if he can dig up an answer. Now tell me why you were so upset moments before."

I debate answering him. I am not sure if he wants me remembering that side of him but after everything that's happened in a few days I decide on the truth. "I was falling asleep when a memory came over me. I was suddenly in maybe the twelfth or thirteenth century and I was arguing with a man about a room at an Inn. Then I decided to go to some stables to sleep. I spotted you in a tavern and followed you in...

"You were with a prostitute and drinking ale." I try to hide the disgust in my voice but it's too powerful to not be heard. "Then three men ganged up on me and you just watched until the third pulled his knife. You stayed in the tavern after I left to continue to fight because you couldn't seem to stop yourself." I stop myself from saying anything else as I wait for his response.

For a moment I think we've disconnected until finally he responds in a deep whispering voice. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Neither of us say anything as I wait for him to continue. "When I was a human I was tied down to no one and I drank and fought and slept around. When the Archangels informed me that The Lord had made me your Guardian I couldn't understand why.

"I thought if I acted the same way as I did with you as I did a human. Therefor I drank and gambled away all our money. I made sure to flaunt random woman in front of you until I was sure you despised me. I was very pleased to think that the Archangels may let me be free. That's when you almost died in our second life that I was brought to my senses. I hadn't come to care for you as I do now but you had become someone I depended on to heal me and keep me from getting killed. I knew I couldn't lose you." Nate stops rambling and takes a deep breath that sends static across the phone.

I heard his apology and I accept it easily but I can't get the thought of him sleeping with another woman out of my head. Just thinking of that slutty prostitute trying to lead him upstairs makes my insides twist in knots to where I think I may throw up.

The powerful force that rages through me overwhelms my mind and it takes a second to realize what this feeling is. Jealousy. It's bitter and strong as it races through my veins and I suddenly want to strangle every woman that ever touched him.

"Don't be like that Marie, please. This was way before you and I ever connected. As soon as I felt feelings that I knew I couldn't ignore anymore not one more woman every caught my eye." Well he certainly must have felt the jealousy tearing its way through me because I feel as if it's strong enough to travel to wherever he is now and punch him in the face. I can tell he must feel an enormous amount of guilt for him to plead with me as well.

Taking a deep breath I tell myself that that prostitute is dead now and I'm with Nate. That gives me an amount of grim satiation to calm the raging monster inside me.

"I think I may have cared for you a lot sooner than you did for me. The second life you were talking about we collapse in a tall patch of grass to rest." I remember the gentle way I healed him and used up the last bit of my energy just so he could have a straight nose and healed lip. "I wasn't in love with you but I think I had a crush on you." I think about that and laugh at how girlish that sounds. "Well you know what I mean."

He chuckles along with me and I can just picture that stunning smile brightening whatever room he is in now. "I was as gorgeous back then as I am now so it's no surprise." His cockiness is back in full now that I've done with the jealousy thing.

I feel my eyes close to slits as I retort, "Yes but you stunk and were extremely filthy so it must have just been appreciation for you saving me only a handful of times."

He's silent for a moment and I think I may have gone a bit far in insulting his Guardian ability. Before we can start arguing again I start saying what I wanted to tell him in the beginning of this call. "Nate...I'm sorry." It takes all my effort to not mumble it. Saying I am sorry is like swallowing nails. Unpleasant and painful. "For insinuating that you are alike the Fallen for what you were doing to that man, I was just upset. I still don't think it's right to do that to another hu-I mean angel. But I shouldn't have said that you have no humanity."

Once I have stopped I can't believe my ears. Is he laughing at me? "So basically you're sorry but you are still right about the argument? Oh my love, you haven't changed a bit."

I consider getting offended by his humor in my sincere apology but exhaustion suddenly crashes down on me. "Nate, I'm going to get some more sleep. Goodnight."

He must mistake my need for sleep as frustration at him for rejecting my apology because he rushes on in a more serious tone. "I also have something to apologize for. It's been many lives for me since I have been a human. I know it must be difficult for you to get used to our ways again. I will just have to be patient."

Deciding to be as difficult as he was after my apology I say, "You still haven't said you're sorry."

I smirk at his frustrated sigh. "I am sorry." Ah, so it's as hard for him to say he's sorry as it is for me.

"Goodnight Nate."

"Goodnight my love."